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85
One prematurely born child died owing to cyanosed extremities
and general œdema. Lived 13 hours.
One prematurely born child died from convulsions.
Six children were stillborn. The causes of stillbirth were as
follows:—
3 macerated foetus.
1 owing, to membranes being ruptured 10 days before delivery.
2 causes unknown.
The infant mortality rate of children born in the Maternity
Home during the year was 15.3 per 1,000 births as compared with
40.4 for those born in their own homes. This is an accurate
statement. The figure of 40.4 having been arrived at after deduction
of all births and infant deaths in the Maternity Home, and
of all infant deaths in the Village Homes, Barkingside.
It would therefore appear to be fair to say that if every
mother in Ilford could have her baby born in a Maternity Home
the death-rate of babies in Ilford could be reduced by more than
one-half.
At the present time the circumstances of those unable to
pay a fee of two guineas per week are enquired into by the
Health Visitors, and a fee is decided on by the Medical Officer
of Health, subject to confirmation by the Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee.